Adjustable mounting for fasteners



SePt- 9, 1941- A. os'rwALD 2,255,183

ADJUSTABLE MONTING FOR FASTENERS Filed April 22. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Sept. 9, 1941. A. os'rwALD 2,255,183 ADJSTABLE MOUNTING `FR FASTENRS asneetssheet 2 Filed VApril 22, 1959 Sept. 9, 1941. A- OSTWALD 2,255,183

ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR FASTENERS Filed April 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented Sept. 9, 1941 ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR FASTENERS Adolph Ostwald, New York, N. Y.

Application April 22, 1939, Serial No. 269,509

` 14 claims.

This application is a' continuation-impart of the pending application, Serial No. 133,757, led March 30, 1937.

The primary object of the invention is to provide readily adjustable garments, particularly uniforms.

It is also proposed herein to provide an adjustable mounting for fastening means so that a garment may be varied in size according to the selected location of the mounting and fastening means.

Garments of the type contemplated have long been needed, not only for military purposes, but also in schools and bands where there is an annual turnover in personnel, and where also the uniforms must be adjusted from time to time to fit the individual owners.

Since, in adjusting the size of a garment comparatively long seams must be let out or taken in, as the case may be, it is intended to provide a mounting that is flexible along its length.

Another object is to provide an adjustable mounting which will not slip, cannot accidentally be torn loose from a garment, and which will not tear, pull, stretch, or distort the material in which it is attached.

Moreover, it is further intended to 'provide a device for attaching two or more pieces of material together. At the same time, a part of the invention lies in the provision of a simple tool which may be a part of the main structure in one instance, or which may be used separately to facilitate attaching the mounting on the garment or on the materials joined.

Still again, it is intended to provide a device which will cause no physical discomfort, which will not be exposed to view, and will thus, when i used in an adjustable uniform as proposed, not mar the appearance in any way.

Other objectives of the invention, such as ease in manufacture, assembly and mounting, durability, and simplicity will be found present in the following specification and drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a back elevation of a uniform with a portion turned back to show part of the mounting;

Fig. 2 is a back elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing the uniform as seen in ordinary use;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one portion of the insertin one form of the device;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the receptor;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the receptor in dotted lines below a sheet of material at the cornpletion of the first step in attaching the mounting;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but with the mounting' completely attached;

Fig. 7 is a section along lines 'l-'I of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a section along lines 8--8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through a garment as shown in Fig. 2, but with the front, closed;

Fig. 10 shows an insert according to another form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 4, but partially broken away;

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing one step in the use of the device shown in Figs. 10 and 11;

Fig. 13 is a section along the lines I3--I3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showing a later step; I

Fig. 15 is a section along lines I5-l5 in Fig. 14, and

Fig. 16 shows the tool accessory.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 9`,

inclusive, the reference numeral 2 indicates a uniform having an adjustable collar 3 and sleeves 4. To the material 5 along one side of the back opening a slide-fastener element 6, having a connector 'I 'at its top and slide'fastener 8 is secured. The tape 9 is permanently secured by stitches I0 tothe inside of the material 5 and set back from the edge thereof so that the, material 5 overlaps the fastener element 6, as shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 9.-

On the other side of the back opening, hereinafter called the adjustment side I2, a complementary slide fastener I4, having a connector I5 complementary to the connector 'I is adjustably mounted.

The adjustable mounting of the slide fastener element I4 is accomplished by the receptor element I6, shown best in Figs. 4 and 11, which consists of a series of C-shaped members I8, which 4may be of metal, plastic, molded composition, or

other material, each having opposed jaws I9 which form the mouth openings 20. The `C shaped members I8 are held together in end-toend relationship by means of flexible cat gut strings 2|, which are passed in and out of the holes 22 as shown in Fig. 11, and`thus provide. the semi-continuous channel 24 running from end to end in the exible receptor element I6.

Fig. 3 shows the insert 25 which includes the tape 26, on one edge of which is attached the slide fastener element I4. tape 26 are beads' 28, which are smaller than On the other edge of the width and depth dimensions of channel 24 within the C-shaped members. As shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 9, the beads 28 are strung on the flexible cat gut string 29, attached to the tape 25 by stitches 28a.

On one end of the insert 25 is the stop member 30 and the metal plate 3|. The metal plate is attached to the tape by a rivet 33 for supporting the connectorl I to facilitate engagement of connectors 1 and I5 preliminary to operating the slide fastener 8. On the other end is the pull tab 32. As shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the pull tab 32 has an eyelet 34 at one end, the string 29 being fastened through the eyelet. The portion around the eyelet is also smaller than the channel 24, and! the neck 36on the tabis smaller than the mouths I9 in the C-shaped members. The broad 'end of the pull tab forms a spade portion 38, which is offset as shown in Fig. 5.

The uniform is exceedingly easy to t or adjust to any desired size. The final location of the slide fastener I4 with respect to the edge of the partially closed by the material.

material on the adjustment side I2 is first deterrnined by fitting the coat 2 to the wearer.

Then, after marking the material, first allowing for the Width of the tape 25, the receptor element is placed on any convenient flat surface, with the mouths 20 of the C-shaped members I8 facing upwardly. The marked portion of the material I2 is placed over the receptor element I6, with the front facing upwardly, the spade portion 38 of the pull tab is used to push the material I2 down through the mouths 20 and into the channel 24 by running it along the top of the material as shown in Fig. 7. Figs. 5 and 'I show the assembly at the end of this stage.

Next, the eyelet end of the pull tab is placed in the end of the channel 20a which has now been formed in the material I2, and the beads 28 are pulled into the channel 20a to the position in Figs. 6 and 8. The coat may then be fastened inithe usual manner by engaging the connectors 'I and I5 and operating the slide fastener 8, as shown in Fig. 9.

A form of the invention particularly suitable for joining two or more pieces of cloth, such as at the back seam of a uniform, or in any other structure where an overlap between the materials to he joined is obtainable, is shown in Figs. 10 to 16, inclusive.

In the latter figures, a beaded insert chain 40 (see Fig. 10), comprising elongated beads 42 strung on the flexible string 44 is used in conjunction with the receptor element I6, shown in Figs. 4 and 11.

Two layers of cloth, the upper 46, and the lower 48, are placed together with their common edges adjacent. The receptor element I 6 is placed beneath the layers, set in from the edges, and the end of the beaded chain 40 is placed near one end of the receptor.

In place of the pull tab 32, an inserter 50 having a slot 52, a neck 54, handle portion 55, and

the depressor 58 is used as follows. The slotted end of the inserter is engaged with the chain 40 as shown in Fig. 16. 'Ihe depressor is used to force the cloth into the channel 24 in the receptor by running it along the cloth over the mouths 2o and thus provides the channel 20a'. At the same time the slotted end of the inserter is started in the end of the channel 20a, and the chain 40 is pulled into the channel 20a behind the depressor to the position shown in Figs. l2 and 13.

In the foregoing specification there has been described an adjustable uniform which, While capable of being fitted to many different sized wearers in succession, does not bear the stigma of' a hand-me-down because the features which provide adjustments are not visible.

In the adjustable mounting for the separable fastener, qualities of flexibility, ruggedness, simplicity, and economy are combined to achieve comfort, confidence, operability, and availability in and to the user.

The adaptations of the invention are suitable for joining any flexible sheet materials, not only in uniforms and other garments, but also in tents, covers, bags, and the like.

The invention thus described is not limited'to the specific disclosure, but only by the compass of thel following claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable fastener for joining flexible sheetl materials comprising an elongated, nonrigid receptor, said receptor having a partially closed mouth channel, with at least one open end, extending along the length thereof, said receptor being formedof a plurality of rigid elements defining said channel and said mouth and articulating means supporting said elements in` series, and a non-rigid insert engageable within said channel, said insert being adapted and arranged, with respect to the first-named means, to be slid into said channel only from the open end thereof.

2. An adjustable fastener for joining flexible sheet materials, comprising an elongated, nonrigid receptor having a partially closed mouth channel, with at least one open end, extending along the length thereof for holding an open crease of said material therein, said receptor being formed of a plurality of rigid elements defining said channel and said mouth and articulating means supporting said elements in series,

and an elongated, non-rigid insert engageable within said crease.

3. In combination with an adjustable fastener as claimed in claim 2, an inserting tool having a portion engageable with said insert, said portion being engageable within said channel, but larger than the open mouth thereof, a neck portion smaller than said open mouth, and a depressor portion for creasing said material into said channel.

4. An adjustable fastener as claimed in claim 2, said insert comprising a string of beads.

5. An adjustable mounting for a separable fastener element comprising an elongated, non-rigid receptor, said receptor having a. partially closed mouth channel, with at least one open end, extending along the length thereof, said receptor being formed of a plurality of rigid elements defining said channel and said mouth and articulating means supporting said elements in series, a non-rigid insert engageable within said channel, said insert being adapted and arranged, with respect to the first-mentioned means, to be slid into said channel only from the open end thereof, said element being secured to said insert.

6. An adjustable mounting for attaching a separable fastener element to a sheet of flexible material, comprising an elongated, non-rigid receptor, said receptor having a partially closed mouth channel, With at least one open end, extending along the length thereof for holding a crease of said material therein, means dening said channel and said mouth, and an elongated, non-rigid insert engageable Within said crease, said means comprising a plurality of rigid,ele ments spaced along non-rigid supporting means, said insert including a plurality of rigid elements and articulating means supporting said elements in series and being adapted and arranged with respect to the first-mentioned means '-.to be slid into said crease only from the open end of said channel, said separable fastener element being secured to said insert.

7. An adjustable mounting as claimed in claim 6, said insert having a pull tab secured at one end thereof, said pull tab having an eyelet portion engaged with said insert, said eyelet portion being slidable along said fold, a neck portion smaller than said mouth, and a handle, said handle being substantially at for pressing said material into said channel whereby to form said told.

8. An adjustable mounting for attaching a separable fastener element on a sheet of exible material, comprising an elongated, non-rigid receptor, said receptor comprising a plurality of c-shaped members spaced from one another, and held in end-to-end relationship, exible means for attaching .said members together whereby to form a partially closed mouth channel extending along the length thereof for holding a crease of said material therein, and a non-rigid insert engageable in said crease within said channel from the end thereof, the thickness of said receptor element being substantially equal to the =.width of'said mouth, said fastener element bev.ing attached to said insert.

9. An adjustable mounting for attaching a separable fastener element on a sheet of flexible material, comprising an elongated, non-rigid receptor, said receptor comprising a plurality of50 C-shaped members slightly spaced from one another and held in end-to-end relationship by ymeans of exible cat gut laced through holes mouth of said channel whereby, when said in- 85 sert is slid into said fold from the end of said channel, the material forming the fold and said f beads will prevent the withdrawal of either Athrough the mouth of the channel.

v5 10. An adjustable mounting as -claimed in claim 9, a pull tab attached to one end of said insert adjacent the beaded edge thereof, said pull tabhaving an eyelet portion engaged with said insert, said eyelet portion being smaller in all dimensions than said channel, a neck portion smaller in all dimensions than the mouth of said channel, and a substantially at handle portion for creasing said flexible material into said channel.

11. An adjustable fastener for joining flexible sheet materials, comprising an elongated, nonrigid receptor, said receptor comprising a plurality of substantially C-shaped members slightly spaced from one another and held in end-toend relationship by means of flexible cat gut laced through holes in the walls of said members, respectively, thus to provide a partially closed mouth intermittent channel extending a bent handle, and an element extending downwardly from said handle for depressing said flexible material intosaid channel as said member is moved therealong to insert said string of beads.

40 13. An adjustable fastener for joining flexible sheet materials, comprising an elongated, nonrigid receptor having a partially closed mouth channel extending along 'the length thereof, said receptor being formed of a plurality of elements substantially C-shaped in cross section and being joined by a pair of flexible stringlike members, said members being secured, re-

` spectively, to the opposed sides of said elements,

and an elongated, non-rigid insert engageable within said channel for holding said exible sheet materials therein.

14. An adjustable fastener for joining ilexible sheet materials, comprising an elongated, nonrigid receptor having a partially closed mouth channel extending along the length thereof, said receptor being formed of a plurality of rigid elements substantially G-shaped in cross section and being joined by a pair of flexible string-like members, said members being secured, respectively, to the opposed sides of said elements, and

an elongated, non-rigid insert engageable within said channel for holding said flexible sheet materials therein.

-ADOLPH OSTWALD. 

